Fuel-feeding mechanism.



W. SHUHTLEFF'. FUEL. FEEmNG MEcHAmsM'. AMILiCATHIIN fiLED SEPT. 3a 19H 'Lma Patented ot. 23, i917.

i? u BJ Q' nection UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

To L M fui/1,0m it may concern:

Be it known that I, NVILFRED SHURTLEFF, a citizen of the United States, and a'resi dent of Moline, in the county of Rock Island and State of Illinois, have inventedcertain neu" and useful Improvements in Fuel-F eeding Mechanism, of which the following is a specification( My invention relatesl to liquid fuel feed ing mechanism adapted particularly for controlling the feed of oil .to carbureters of vehicle gas engines.

In somel prior art devices of this class an auxiliary oil tank located above the level of the main tank connected with the carbureter and contains a' float vessel connected with the Vauxiliary tank'and With the main tank, the Yfloat vessel having also connection with usually the manifold of the engine, and having also an, atmosphere inlet. Ordinary valves 4which -move to and from seats are usually rovided for controlling the conbetween the float vessel and the auxiliary tank, and the connection of the float vessel With atmosphere or the engine" Such ordinary valves are apt to manifold.

become clogged, and dirt is apt to lodge be- -.tween the seat and the valve to prevent proper and eflicient functioning of the valves'. Furthermore, complicated lever mechanism is connected With the float and is employed to opera-te the valves and the constrpction of the entire mechanism is more orless complicated and apt to be unreliable and inefficient; Y

In such earlier devices the valves controlling the, connection with atmosphere'and p manifold/are controlled to be alternately operated, that is, when the air inlet valve is open the suction controlling valve is closed and when the air valve 1s closed the suction .controlling valve-is open. Furthermore, the

, valve'controlled passageway from the float Vvessel tothe manifold is not restricted and therefore opening and closing of the suction ooi'itrollingvalve has a tendency to interfere with proper-operation ofthe carbureter and the mixture delivered thereby.

Among the important objects of my invention are to provide a continuously open passageway between the manifold and the oat chamber and so restricted and limited as to prevent sudden variations in resistance to the suction effect, to thusprevent interference of the feeding mechanism Withthe Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 3, 1915. Serial No. 48,769. v

is mountedon the valve to the manifold of the elfigi Paten-ted 4Oct. 11791;7.

adjustment and operation "ofrft particularly when the -ca'ibiirter to havel the engine run slo i, improved valve mechanism eo jointly by the float restricted passagewayjfo olling. the connection of the ioatf'ci @im ervvith yatmosphere; to adapt such valvedmechanismto be self-cleaning; to provide simple andselfcleaning valve mechanism foiiconnectingthe float chamber with thefaufi Lryft nk, and in general to provide a iple','inoredurable, more reliable and more Lefficient controlling mechanism of the olas. l l The various features "f clearly disclosed on the c ing in whichn l Figure 1 is a verticaldiamet j c view of the feed controlling j ec` anismg.

Fig. 2 .'s a sectionaljvie'ivjf f theI atmos-` 75 phere controlling valve Vmec'liariferitiY` showing.- the valve in` another pos ion a i' Fig. 1, showing the oil valve in another position The Y auxiliary tank sheet metal and ofV elo gf form With its upper enfd ope through its f'base with theo le vpipeffll. which in practice is connectedavit bureter. Within the aux" k cylindrical fioat vesselfl bottom and supported tending Vfrom the tank' is of slightly less diams, to leave the annular ver atmosphere from the si 10 below the vessel 12. f j the upper end of vesselwl` supply tank which in prac i, level of the auxiliary ta.ry t' MU the top Wall of the floatA es l 17 in the form of a ca;r Vpiston chamber 18 for t axially through the cham l its upper end projecting passageway 21 in the fra has the laterally extent sageway 22 for receiii which is adapted .by ci); nection with pipe 25 Which n pra piston chamber 18, and in the nipple 23 there is a plug 27 which has a fine reducing passageway theretl'irough for controlling the flow of air from the float vessel to the manifold. The piston 19 does not tit tightly in its chamber but is of sufficiently reduced diameter to leave a very line restricted annular passage-way between it and the chamber walls for the flow of air.

The upper part of the stem 20 -has the longitudinal passageway 29 therethrough connected at itsends with the exterior of the stem by upper and loweiI lateral ports 30 and 31 respectively, the arrangement being such t-hat -when the piston has movedr upwardly a distance in chamber 1.8 the upper port 30 will be in communication with atmosphere, and when the piston is down the port 30 will be inside the o Jening 21 in the frame 17, so that when the piston is up the float vessel will have connection with atmosphere, and when the piston isdown such atmosphere connection will be cut off.

Extending upwardly a distance from the lower end of the valve stem 20 is the longitudinal passageway 32 connected with the lateral port 33, and the base of the vessel 12 carries a block 34 having an opening through which the lower end of the valve stem extends. The arrangement is such that whenthe piston 19 is -up and the float vessel is connected with atmosphere, the port 33 will be above the' block 34 to connectthe float vessel with the space 15, and when the piston 19 is down the port 33 will be inside the .block 34 to disconnect the float vessel from the space l5.

The valve stem carries upper and lower abutment plates 35 and 36 and a float 37 surrounds the stem between these plates but is of less-height than the distance between them. The `arrangement is such that when there issuflicient oil in the float vessel the float will -be raised against the pla-,te 35 to shift the valve stem 20 upwardly to connect passageway 29 with the atmosphere, and when they oil level decreases below a minimum the float will engage the lower abutment plate 36 and will shift the valve stem to its lower position.

The operation of my improved feed mech# Y anism is now apparent. 4.When there is suii cient oil in the vessel the float will be upl and the stem will be upsufficiently to expose the air inlet port 3Q tothe atmosphere, and the suction through the restricted passageway 2S will then draw atmospheric air throughthe passageway '29 and the suction effect on the oil inlet4 pipe 16 will be destroy'ed so that the oil stops flowing. As soon as the level of the oil drops in the vessel 12 and the-float sinks into engagement with the collar 36 the stem will be shifted downwardly to close the outlet palssageway 32 and` to bring the port 30 within in operation, the suction in the manifold acts on the carbureter to draw up the combustion mixture for the engine, butowing to the restricted reducingl passageway QS only a small fraction of this suction effect is manifested in the piston chamber 18 and on account of this suction effect air flows through the passageway 29 to the space below the piston and around the piston and` to the manifold. The path for air t-o the manifold is always open but owing to the restricted and reduced passageway 2S the air flow to thel manif-old is Constant and there can be no sudden' variations which could interfere with the feeding of a proper mixture from the carbureter to the manifold. This is particularly important during slow running of the engine, for when the carbureter is throttled all the manifold suction tends to exert itself on the auxiliarv feed mechanism. Now, if itwere possible for the manifold to take in a sudden rush of air when the carbureter is throttled the combustion mixture would suddenly be thinned and the engine would stop. But with. the restricted a1r passageway from the auxiliary feed mechanism to the manifold such sudden inrush of air is prevented and the engine will not stop.

if the level of oil in the float vessel falls sufficient-ly the 1105115.37 will engage with the abutment plate 36 'and will shift the valve stem 20 downwardly to sluit. off passageway 29 from atmosphere and to close the oil passageway 32 to1 thespace 15. The suc tion effect from the vmanifold will now be concentrated on the float vessel and air will be withdrawn therefrom past the piston 19 and to the manifold and oil will flow from the main supply tank through -pipe 16 to the float vessel to replenish the supply of oil therein. Here again owing to therestricted passageway 28 there can be 11o/sudden rush of air` the restricted. passageway and will leave t-he abutment 35, but the suc# tion effect above the piston 19 will be sutli-l cient to hold the valve stem in its raised position. 0f course when the engine stops and the suction effect on the piston ceases, the stem may fall, but then whenthe engine is again started oil will be drawn from the main tank into the "float vessel and the float or particles to` become lodged between valve Surfaces and seats. As the stein 20 slides through its openings in the frame 17 and the block 34, any particles adjacent the inlet ports will bey brushed away and therefore clear passageway is always provided. Likewise, there is no chance for accumulation of dirt or particles between the piston 19 and its inclosing walls for such particles will be continuously agitated during shifting of the piston stein and will fall away.

' The feed device will of course be subjected to changes in temperature, particularly the oil in the space 15 which is iiiclosed except for the vent passageway 14. However, such vent passageway will -readilyl take care of expansion' and contraction and the oil may rise and fall therein without interfering with the operation of the device. Bubbles resulting from volatilizatioii can readily escape through the vent passageway and the passageway being quite high the bubbles will break before they reach the top thereof and the released gaswill escape through the open upper end of the tank 10. As shown, the upper end of the tank extends a distance above the float vessel to form a guard for preventing spill or bubbling over.

I thus provide a feedV mechanism which 4can be operated with the greatest efficiency by continuous but restricted and uniform suction from the manifold without in any wise interfering with the most eflicient operation of the manifold to at all times pull the necessary fuel mixture from the carbureter. The construction is of the simplest, involving few, simple and inexpensive parts. There is no chance for clogging or interference by dirt particles and the valve parts and piston can always move freely to accurately perform their functions.

I do not of course [desire to be limited to the exact construction, arrangement and operation disclosed as changes and modiiication may be possible which would still come within tlie scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1.-In .a fuel feed mechanism of the class described, the combination of va fuel container having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, a

permanently open air outlet passageway from the container adaptedfor fcnnection",

with a suction sourceyan air' inlet 'to said i container, a valve for controlling said air inlet, and a piston connected witlisaid "valve and subject to the suction 'through said outlet passageway to be retainedv in Aposition to hold said air inlet valveopen.= l

2. In a fuel feedvnie'chanismfof the class described7 the combinationsof a fuel container having-a fuel inletandafuel outlet, a frame at the top of said-.container `having a permanently open air-f outlet passageway therethrough adapted fon connection V--Lw-itl'i a suction source, an air inlet to the container,"

a valve for controlling'saidair inlet, saiidf4 frame, hav-ing a piston chamber, a piston operable in said chamber and connected-with said valve and subjected to 'the suction in said outlet passageway, a float in said con? tainer adapted during change of level in sa'idf container 'to shift said valve toopenl oi close the air; inlet, the suction effect on Vsaid piston being sulicient to hold the valvein'l position of opening thefairinlet afteryshifting of the valve to such'position by the ioatiy 3. In fuel feeding mechanism of the lclass described, the combination-of-A a :fuel consi tainer having a fuel inlet anda fuel outlety afname at the uppeipart-f4 of :-said container. having a permanently opens:

source, an air inlet for the COntainer-aavalafe piston in said piston chamber connected with said air. valve and fitting suiiiciently loose in the chamber to leave restricted passageway around its sides, and a vfloat in said container adapted upon variation of fuel level to effect shift of said valve to open or closethe air inlet, the suction effect on said piston being suicieiit to cause said iston to hold the valve in Vopen posi-tion after shift thereof to such position by the float.

4. In a fuel feeding mechanism of the class described, the combination of a container having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet,

a frame at the upper .part of said containerv rcgolutlet "pas-2": sageway therethroughfrom*V --tlief lconta-indi?- and adapted4 Vfor connectiongwitli a suction"y of said lumber above the piston adapted for connection with a suction source` a piston reciprocable within said chamber and suliiciently loose fitting to leave a restricted passageway around its sides. said restricted pistou passageway and said restricted outlet passageway forming a permanently open air outlet from the container. an air inlet to the container, a valve for said air inlet connected with said piston, a Iioat in said container, and upper andv lower abutments -for said fioat connected wi-th said valve and adapted to be engaged by said float to shift the 'valve to o en or closed position.

5. In fuel eed mechanism of the class described, the combination of a fuel container having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet, a frame at the upper part of said container, a permanently open aire-1 outlet passageway through said frame from the container adapted for connection with a source of suction., a valve stem extending through said frame into the container, the upper part of said stem having an air passageway providedwith inlet and outlet ports, said out letport being always open to the container, said inlet port being open to atmosphere when the vvalve stem is out, and bein within said frame to be closed When the Va ve stem is in, abutments on said valve stem, and a fioat within the container for cooperating with said abutments to shift the Valve stem to inner or outer position to thereby eHect opening or closure of the inlet air passagewa (ii In fuel feed mechanism of theclass described, the combination ofa closed fuel container having a fuel inletand a fuel outlet, a frame at the upper part of said-'container, a permanently' open air outlet passagewa t rough sald frame from the container adapted-for connectionlfvith a source o`f suction, a valve st 'em passing through said frame into and throughsad container, valve mechanisms at thek upper and lower ends of said stem for" controlling said air inlet and fuel outletrespectively, and a ioat in the container adapted to coperatie with said with the-fueloutlet, and a float in the container adapted to cooperate with said stern to control its valving operation.

8. In fuel feed mechanism ofthe class described, the combination of a fuel container having a fuel inlet and a fuel outlet,

.a frame at. the upper part of said container,

a suction outlet from said container, a Stem extending through said container and said frame and having an air inlet passageway at its upper end, the inner end of said passageway being always open to the centaine. and the outer end of said passageway being open to the atmosphere when the stem is raised but closed by the frame when the stem is lowered, and a float in said container for controlling the shifting of said stem to open and close said passageway.

In witness whereof` I have hereunto set my hand this 30th day of August, A. D., 1915.

l WILFRED SHURTLEFF. Witnesses:

G. A. SHALLBERG, CL'OIRA SUNDBERG, 

